MLB Hands Out Hardware

Ah, its that time of year once again. Time to honor the best of the best in the game of baseball. Major League Baseball has just finished handing out the hardware for the 2021 season. Its the time to honor some of the best individual moments in a great team game. This year, with a full season back on, there's a much larger sample size for award winners then what we saw last year. With that being said, here's the award winners for the 2021 season.

Manager Of The Year: AL Kevin Cash (Rays), NL Gabe Kapler (Giants)
In the AL, it comes as no real surprise that it goes to Kevin Cash, who joins Bobby Cox as back to back winners. Cash is the first American League manager to win the award in back to back years. Look what he did in Tampa. The Rays had a $70 Million payroll, which was $30 million less than any other team that made the playoffs this year. Yet they managed to win the AL East for the 2nd year in a row and lead the AL with 100 wins. Cash did a masterful job of keeping the lineup moving along, and despite losing his best pitcher midway through the year, they pulled off an AL East title. Gape Kapler did just as masterful of a job in the NL, leading the Giants to an NL West title and the best record in all of baseball. 107 wins with a lineup mixed with veterans from the World Series runs and a bunch of up and coming kids in the lineup.

Rookie Of The Year: AL Randy Arozerana (Rays), NL Jonathan India (Reds)
Arozerana becomes the 4th Rays player to win the AL's top rookie award. He has played parts of the last two seasons, sure, but it wasn't enough games to qualify for above rookie status before this season. he played a full year finally and took full advantage of it. He even managed to out play fellow Rays rookie Wander Franco. India becomes the 8th Reds player to win the rookie of the year award, the first Red to win it since Scott Willamson in 1998. India collected all but one of the first place votes. He had turned into a huge bright spot for the Reds this season, powering the Reds with 21 home runs and 98 runs scored, as well as an all star selection.

Cy Young Award: AL Robbie Ray (Blue Jays), NL Corbin Burnes (Brewers)
In a close race in the NL, Burnes just edged out Zach Wheeler of the Phillies. It came as a bit of a surprise considering Wheeler had lead the league in innings pitched and strikeouts. But Burnes had the better ERA. Burnes is the first ever Brewer to win the award to win while in the NL. The franchise had won back to back in the AL in the early 80s with Yukovich and Fingers. He might not have had the most starts, as he only started 28 games and pitched 167 innings, both somewhat low for a winner, he still dominated games for the Brew Crew. Ray is the 5th Jay to win the Cy Young and the first since Doc Halladay in 2003. Ray went 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA and 248 strikeouts, just beating out Gerrit Cole for the award. His ERA and 181 innings of work were both tops in the AL and he had an eleven start stretch in the middle of the season where he was almost unhittable. Toronto struck gold signing him to the one year deal this year.

Most Valuable Player: AL Shohei Ohtani (Angels), NL Bryce Harper (Phillies)
Ohatni was the runaway winner in the American League, taking it by unanimous vote. And why not, it was the season that turned the baseball world on its ear. He had a 3.18 ERA and 130 innings in 23 starts. At the plate, he hit 46 home runs and stole 26 bases. He did it all for the Angels this season. because Ohtani did what he did this year, it was an easy choice. If he hadn't put up the unreal numbers, the award probably would have gone to Vlad Jr in Toronto. Over in the NL, Bryce Harper was playing, well, like Bryce Harper. he clubbed 35 homers and kid of did it all both at the plate and in the field for the Phillies.